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Tornado Levels Kansas Town; White House Hosts Queen Elizabeth For State Dinner; Tornado Destroys 95 Percent of Town's Homes & Buildings; Telling Iraq's Future; 'Life Lessons'

Aired May 07, 2007 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm T.J. Holmes, sitting in here today for Don Lemon. Don is actually in Greensburg, Kansas, a town 95 percent gone, after the biggest, strongest tornadoes to hit the U.S. in years. Two-and-a-half days after the storm, another ill wind sends townspeople running.

PHILLIPS: Same state, different threat -- flash floods in Topeka turn streets into rivers, houses into islands. More than 500 people are rescued.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

HOLMES: Well, just days ago, they lived there. They learned there. They worshipped there -- today, no homes, no schools, no churches, bodies still turning up in Greensburg, Kansas, after Friday night's huge tornado.

Our Don Lemon is in the heart of the devastation. Our Jacqui Jeras is watching new weather threats that are happening on the horizon.

PHILLIPS: Let's get to Don first, though.

The death toll is rising, but there are new signs of life.

Tell us about it, don.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, new signs of life, Kyra.

They found one person alive amid the rubble last night, took that person to the hospital. And we're trying to get some more information about who that person is. They won't tell us anything.

I guess they are trying to wait to talk to the family to make sure that everyone knows who they are, so that they can get to the hospital and make sure that that person is OK. We don't know the condition or anything.

But, just about an hour ago, there was some more really sad news from here. According to the town manager, they found two more bodies, one in a lake that's very near here and one amid the rubble. Here is that town manager talking about that just a little bit ago. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE HEWITT, GREENSBURG CITY ADMINISTRATOR: Currently, we have recently now confirmed two fatalities. One was located at our lake, which is north of town, and another was found in the middle of town, and which we want to let -- that's why we are continuing the search and recovery.

We will continue this throughout the -- today and tomorrow. And we just -- we will continue to -- hope to continue to find folks alive, but we wanted to confirm a couple of fatalities for you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And that was the town manager, Steve Hewitt.

Now, what they have been doing, there have been several other agencies reporting that new people were brought in to help in the rescue. It's actually not true. What's happening is, as people get tired and they need some rest, they will bring new people in. It's not additional people. It's just the same number of people that they had available already. But they are just changing those crews out.

And we have some new information as well when it regards that chemical leak here, that ammonia leak that happened. A car that had been damaged during the tornado, they were trying to ride it, and the valve broke, and then some of that ammonia escaped into the air.

Well, it's going to be quite some time before they can actually shut it off, because they are looking for that valve. They have been combing the country, looking for that valve, trying to get a company who makes it. It's a very specialized valve.

And, so, they said they are having a little bit of trouble finding it, but, hopefully, they can. And, so, until they get that in here, they can't actually cap it off.

So, that's the very latest from here. And this -- I mean, if you look around -- there you go -- all this devastation. And this is block after block after block after block, Kyra. And you can see the American flags. We talked about that earlier.

As a matter of fact, William (ph), if you will pan right there, people are draping them. People who live here are coming by, some of the media, taking them off the ground, because we know our people who went to war and who fought, they don't like to see these American flags on the ground.

This happens to be a VFW hall right here, so, a lot of these flags are strewn about -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And, Don, when you talk about the devastation, and we look at these pictures, and even seeing some of the shops that were torn down, have you heard any reports or have there been any concerns about looting at this point? Obviously, it's a small town, but you can't help but think about things like that. (CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Yes, there were some initial reports this morning that I actually read about in the local paper and some from our affiliates here that there were people who were arrested for looting.

And you know you are always going to get that element when this happens. Sadly, that's going to happen. But several people have been arrested. And I will try to get more information, more concrete information, on that before.

But there's -- you know, there's literally nothing here for them to get. So, if you come in, you aren't going to get much, because there's nothing here. I mean, everything is pretty much devastated.

And now the National Guard is here. You have got the state police here. And you have got a number of law enforcement agencies here. So, I would say that this town is secure. Stay away. If you are coming here to do that sort of thing, not going to happen -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Don Lemon, we will keep checking in. Thanks, Don.

HOLMES: Well, and the storm system that ravaged Kansas and the rest of the Plains just does not seem to want to go away.

Jacqui Jeras has the latest for us from the CNN Severe Weather Center.

Jacqui, not news people are wanting to hear. This thing just will not go away.

(CROSSTALK)

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it is. It's the storm that wouldn't quit.

This has been going on since Thursday. And we still have at least another day to get through. The severe weather area kind of small in terms of tornadoes. There, you can see the watch box. But we have talked a lot about tornadoes today. There's a whole 'nother element to this storm. And that is flooding. And we have got a lot of it, from North Dakota, all the way down through Oklahoma, even into Texas.

All the bright colors that you see is where we have watches. The dark green, that's warnings. That includes you in Kansas City. That includes you over into the Topeka area. And we had some water rescues that took place earlier this morning as a result of flash flooding and rising rivers.

This is out of the Topeka area; 500 people were evacuated from their flooded homes. Also, just south of town, 18 people in Wakarusa were rescued from their rooftops, because the water was rising so high. Since Friday, Topeka has received 8.64 inches of rainfall, just absolutely incredible. And Topeka is not alone. Kansas City is also getting in on some flooding problems there. There have been some evacuations taking place and a few rescues there as well. The Missouri River is rising. And I believe it's expected to crest now on Wednesday. This is some new video from our affiliate there, KMBC-TV. There, you can see somebody going down the steps being evacuated out of their home. Look how close that water is to her house, a very dangerous situation going on in Kansas City.

And we expect those waters to continue to rise over the next couple of days. We also have flooding some problems in Nebraska, also into Iowa. I-29 is closed from the Missouri state line on northward for a 10-mile stretch there. Then there's also a 30-mile stretch in the center part of the state.

The town of Red Oak, Iowa, in southwestern parts of state -- it's not too far from Omaha Nebraska -- they received five inches of rainfall. And the Nishnabotna River is rising; 1,600 people have been evacuated from Red Oak and surrounding communities on the Nishnabotna -- back to you guys.

HOLMES: All right. We're ready for this one to go away. Jacqui, thank you so much.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Funnel, funnel, funnel cloud, funnel cloud may be on the ground.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got a big funnel heading to the ground in Macksville.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Now, you and I would probably head in the opposite direction, but this is what storm chasers live for. All you need is a camera, a fast car and strong nerves.

Why would anyone want to get so close to such dangerous weather?

Joining me now, Brandon Miller, the tornado chaser who shot that video. He is also a former CNN intern. We would like to think that all former CNN interns go on to do great and exciting things.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: No doubt, Brandon, you have done that.

Tell me -- just tell me about how you shot the video, where you were, and what pushed you to do it.

BRANDON MILLER, TORNADO CHASER: Well, actually, to add to the list of things that you probably need to storm chase, I would say you need to have a knowledge of the storms. It's not really a dangerous hobby if you know what you're doing. But these things definitely can be dangerous, if you don't know, you know, exactly what you are doing.

As for where we were, we were actually northeast about 25 miles, 25 to 30 miles, of the Greensburg town. And we were actually worried that these storms were going to hit there again the next night. But we were actually between Saint John, Kansas, and Macksville, Kansas. And it was about 8:00 p.m. And, as you can see on the video there, it was getting pretty close to dusk, really dark. And we were worried that people weren't going to be able to see the storms, including ourselves.

So, once it got dark, we -- we got out of town.

PHILLIPS: Now, you say it's not dangerous if you know what you are doing. So, what do you mean if you know what you're doing? How is something like this ever safe?

MILLER: Well, I guess, you know, to a degree, it's not ever perfectly safe.

But, you know, as long as you have a knowledge of the storms -- my storm chase partner, Brian Smith (ph), and I, we both have degrees in meteorology. He's a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.

So, we know what are the dangerous parts of the storms. We have data live in the field, so we can see these storms on radar and see exactly the path that they are taking. But we don't get too close to these storms, because, you know, they can move erratically at times. And to get too close to the storms, no matter how much you know about them, you know, we don't know everything about them.

And, if you get too close, they can be dangerous. So, we try to stay a safe distance away.

PHILLIPS: So...

MILLER: And, when you don't know that you are that safe distance, it's definitely time to get out of that.

PHILLIPS: Well, tell me how you do that. Explain to me the technology that you have.

MILLER: Sure.

Well, we have -- we both had our laptops, and we have wireless Internet that we got in the field. So, we were able to see radar live as it comes in through the National Weather Service.

And, so, we were able to see exactly where these storms are, the direction they are heading. And we also have very detailed maps, which is a very, very important part of storm chasing, to have these maps that are up to date. You know, if a road that you are planning on getting out on is no longer there or has a different name, you could find yourself with nowhere to go with a storm coming at you.

So, we try to stay -- if the storms are moving to the northeast, we try to get to the southeast or to the southwest, so that we can be a direction away from where the storm is moving.

PHILLIPS: So, science vs. thrill, tell me what means more to you.

MILLER: Well, definitely the science. And even more important than the science is saving lives.

Storm chasers and storm spotters can be the eyes and ears for the National Weather Service, and help pinpoint exactly where these storms are and the tornadoes located with these storms and the direction they are moving.

They give ground truth to the meteorologists there with the Weather Service that are in the forecast office, you know, that can't see these things live. We can provide them with accurate and detailed information as to where these are going, so that the sirens go off in the right places, and the -- the NOAA weather radios, most importantly, can get the news out to those people that have them. And those are very important for people to have.

PHILLIPS: So, were you able to do that in this situation, Brandon?

MILLER: Actually, the -- the report of these tornadoes were, you know, pretty widespread.

It was reported before we ever saw it and even after we left. So, they had news cameras from local news stations that were there. So, you know, this storm in particular with everything that was going on in Greensburg, was -- you know, there was a lot of information on it. But there are times where we can be of use there.

PHILLIPS: Well, Brandon Miller, you give a very interesting perspective to this. Usually, it's a lot about the thrill-seeker and just chasing it and getting the amazing video. But you have a science and an intellect combined. Very interesting stuff.

Brandon Miller, appreciate it.

MILLER: Thanks, Kyra.

HOLMES: Well, a daring rescue at sea. We will tell you about this video. What's happening here? Stick around for that here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Diplomacy and decadence -- I'm Brianna Keilar in Washington, where Queen Elizabeth will be honored tonight with a state dinner, but, first, a massive garden party under way right now.

That's straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: And it's 3:15. Here are some of the stories we're working on in the CNN NEWSROOM just for you. Searchers have found two more bodies in Greensburg, Kansas, 10 people now confirmed dead in the prairie town that was virtually leveled by a monster tornado on Friday. There are also signs of life, however. Searchers rescued a survivor last night.

Bomb squad officers and sniffer dogs are scouring a ferry in Washington State. It was evacuated and shut down this morning after a note with a bomb threat turned up in a restroom.

And a deadly explosion outside the Luxor hotel-casino in Las Vegas -- one man was killed when something on top of his car just blew up. Police are calling it murder, not terrorism.

HOLMES: All right, want to take you to live pictures here out of Seminole County, Florida. You see this airplane here., part of the firefighting effort because of a brushfire that's broken out there. You see some of that smoke in the camera angle here.

But there's the wider shot, the bigger view of exactly what's going on, how massive this thing is. Evacuations have been ordered in at least one subdivision where this fire is threatening some homes.

Now, the issue here, authorities say -- and you can see a home there, but authorities say that the issue is that it's very, very dry right now, and that there have been storms that just are whipping up some pretty serious winds. Issues have been also that the winds are blowing this, blowing one fire, blowing some of the ashes and embers over to another area, and fires are creeping up in different areas.

But, right now, they have been fighting this, been working the fire since about 6:30 this morning. And the thing has spread. And the winds and the dry conditions are certainly a big issue right now. We do know at least one subdivision has been evacuated because of the threat to homes.

Don't have any word right now of any injuries associated with this fire, but firefighters are on the scene, a serious and a scary situation, certainly, when homes are involved. But they are trying to get this under control, but the winds and certainly the dry conditions not helping out at all.

PHILLIPS: Well, daring rescues at sea, after four boats run into trouble off the North Carolina coast, trouble in the form of 30-foot seas and winds approaching 50 miles an hour.

The Coast Guard already has rescued at least six people from two sailboats. A helicopter has gone to check out two more vessels that sent distress signals. We are going to keep you posted.

HOLMES: A 21-gun salute, a parade, a garden party, and at a white-tie dinner -- it seems red carpet is not nearly enough when Britain's Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, visit the White House.

Our Brianna Keilar on royal watch, getting a chance to partake in all of the festivities. You forgot your hat, but that's OK. I'm sure the queen will forgive you, Brianna.

(LAUGHTER)

KEILAR: That's right. Well, she brought hers.

And, yes, red carpet not enough, but white tie perhaps enough for the queen. We're here at the British ambassador's residence. This is one of the events going on here today, ahead of the state dinner tonight. This is a garden party, a rather large garden party, with about 750 guests. We saw Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arrive here a short while ago.

And she was greeting some of the guests, including Mickey Rooney. And this was kind of a cute moment. He broke with protocol and actually kissed her hand. I guess we're not really surprised , with it being Mickey Rooney, but he, along with some of the other guests here, justice of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Dennis Kucinich, Joe Lieberman.

And, earlier -- you mentioned the 21-gun salute -- that was at the formal welcome on the South Lawn of the White House, President Bush, first lady Laura Bush greeting Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip there.

And, also, there was a procession by an Army band and a drum corps, a lot of pomp and circumstance there, all of this planned to the T.

But President Bush did show there was a little room for error.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The American people are proud to welcome your majesty back to the United States, a nation you have come to know very well. After all, you have dined with 10 U.S. presidents. You helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 -- in 1976.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: A whoops there, but there have been several state dinners at the White House hosted by President Bush and first lady Laura Bush. But this is actually the first white-tie state dinner of the Bush presidency -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right. And, seriously, we couldn't see her face. But was she upset about the comment?

KEILAR: I don't think so. I'm sure she had her dry British sense of humor and that she giggled about it -- T.J. (LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: All right. Brianna Keilar for us -- thank you so much, ma'am.

PHILLIPS: Straight ahead: more on those Missouri high-water rescues. Check this out this videotape.

Oh, I apologize. We don't have the video. But we will have more on the flooding and the rescues right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, things are getting back to normal in Omaha, Nebraska, after a weekend ritual long known as the Woodstock for capitalists, the annual shareholder meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the company run by Warren Buffett, attracted nearly 30,000 people.

Our Susan Lisovicz, of course, was among them. She joins us from the New York Stock Exchange.

Now, Susan, my feeling is that the music and the environment and the hobbies, shall we say, were a little different from the actual Woodstock.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was like far out, man, Kyra.

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: Did you wear your tie-dye?

(LAUGHTER)

LISOVICZ: I didn't have to.

I mean, it was really a trip. When you think that most shareholder meetings are so dry, so sparsely attended, that you really don't even need, you know, a sleeping pill, you have got it all -- not this one, no, not Berkshire Hathaway's meeting, not at all.

One investor, in fact, told me he thinks the better comparison is spring break for capitalists. Shareholders do go wild over Warren Buffett, not only because the folksy billionaire annually sings and plays the ukulele or yuks it up with characters from Fruit of the Loom. That's one of the many companies Berkshire owns.

What they love most is that Buffett delivers. Annual returns on Berkshire shares have averaged 23.5 percent over the last 42 years. That is extraordinary. Buffett told me he's still bullish about stocks and consumer spending, as well, in spite of record high gas prices.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) WARREN BUFFETT, CHAIRMAN & CEO, BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY: Gasoline here, of course, is still cheap compared to costs around the world. So, we can overcome an awful lot of things that seem like temporary problems in this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LISOVICZ: Buffett fielded questions from shareholders for about six hours on Saturday -- no wonder why his voice was somewhat hoarse -- all of these shareholders eager to pick the brain of one of the brightest guys in business -- -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, what about the housing market? Was he optimistic about that?

LISOVICZ: No, he wasn't. And he was characteristically blunt about problems there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUFFETT: Housing is sick. And housing will stay sick for quite a while, in my view, and particularly in certain areas of the country. There are just a whole lot more houses around than -- than natural -- than the natural supply at the present time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LISOVICZ: Buffett is 76 years old. He announced in March he is looking for someone to succeed him as chief investment officer. This weekend, he said he will consider up to four people to fill his shoes.

And, Kyra, he said that he is considering running it like "American Idol..."

(LAUGHTER)

LISOVICZ: ... for Berkshire's next idol. And he says he is the Simon Cowell, if you were to compare him to a specific judge. And, indeed...

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: That's pretty hip for Warren Buffett, wouldn't you say? Does he watch "American Idol"?

LISOVICZ: I -- you know, well, I asked him. Are you Paula or Simon? And he didn't miss a beat. And that is the thing that makes Warren Buffett so unusual, is that he speaks common language. He doesn't use fancy charts. He doesn't use all these fancy words. He just has a few basics in investing.

One of them is buy and hold, buy things you know. He never got into dot-coms. He didn't understand it. And he was never burned, nor were his shareholders. And buy from management teams that you trust, that think like owners, that are in it for the long term.

So, anyway, what -- and, of course...

PHILLIPS: No -- no other inside tips?

LISOVICZ: No.

He hinted a lot. He says he wants to do some deals, a really big deals, but he didn't give a hint as to where it might be. And he's got the cash to do it, obviously. Berkshire's got the cash to do it.

PHILLIPS: Right.

LISOVICZ: And, you know, folks who are investing right now in the Dow industrials, well, they have got some cash, too -- the Dow on track, Kyra, to close at a record high for the fifth straight session, thanks largely to some fresh news on the merger front, the Dow industrials right now above 13300, up 44, about 45 points; 13309 is the level. If it closes higher today, it's gained in 24 of the last 27 sessions, matching the hot streak way back when in the summer of 1927.

Maybe Warren Buffett remembers that. I'm not sure.

(LAUGHTER)

LISOVICZ: The Nasdaq composite is down one point.

Ahead in the NEWSROOM, I will have more on the Dow's win streak, plus a complete wrap-up of the trading day.

Kyra, once again, so good to have you back.

T.J., well, it's good to work with you as well.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Thanks.

HOLMES: I understand, Susan.

PHILLIPS: Thank you, Susan.

HOLMES: I understand.

PHILLIPS: We love -- we share the love.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: Well, we're going to turn back to these pictures out of Seminole County, Florida, where a fire is beginning to threaten homes or at least enough concern for firefighters.

They decided to evacuate a subdivision. The fire is reportedly still a couple of miles away from this subdivision where these homes are. However, just any shift in these winds -- and the winds, according to officials there, have been erratic and pretty strong -- but any shift in them could turn this towards those homes. So, they are taking the precaution.

We're looking at live pictures here, again, Seminole County, where this fire was sparked by another fire -- and, again, the winds blowing some of these ashes other places and starting other fires around. And that's a big concern for firefighters.

We're keeping an eye on that developing story.

Also ahead, we have been talking about all day, and really all weekend this town torn apart, devastated by that huge tornado -- the people of Greensburg, Kansas, now wondering what is left and what is next.

That is ahead here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Need to take you back to these live pictures out of Seminole County, Florida, where there is a brushfire happening right now that has prompted officials to evacuate a subdivision because this fire is getting a little too close for comfort to some of these homes. This brushfire was started early this morning.

Again, officials here actually saying this was sparked by another brushfire that was going on. And the winds right now are so erratic and so strong, it's blowing some ashes and starting fires elsewhere. That was the concern with this fire. And now the concern that this one started like that, so this one could prompt other fires because of the same way.

Again, about two miles away is what it was described as being, away from these homes. But again, the winds are so erratic right now that they didn't want to take any chances. So at least one subdivision has been evacuated.

No word on any injuries right now. But officials are tackling this thing from the air, as you see there. Also from the ground.

We're keeping an eye on this situation happening, again, in Seminole County, Florida.

PHILLIPS: Well, most people in Greensburg, Kansas, heard and felt the tornado that ravaged their town, but they didn't see it. Storm chasers did, though. They managed to videotape the killer twister Friday night, dramatically backlit by the lightning.

We now know it was an EF5, the highest category on the National Weather Service's tornado scale, with estimated winds of 205 miles an hour. By way of comparison, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast with winds around 140 miles an hour.

Our Don Lemon is getting a first-hand look at the devastation.

Don, a number of things to talk about. Where do you want to start? LEMON: Oh my gosh. Kyra, can you believe just those winds, 200 miles an hour? And then 1.7 miles wide, Kyra. That's almost two miles.

Can you imagine a tornado spinning that big? It's just unbelievable.

And we say, you know, we've never seen anything like this before. We have never seen anything like this before.

I want to update you. As you said, several things to report here.

Two more people within the last couple of hours have been found. We -- the city manager told us that just a short time ago. So that brings the total here in this area to 10 people found.

One of those people found amid the rubble, rubble much like this. Another one found in the lake here.

And then also that leak that we told you about, the ammonia leak, it has been contained. They still haven't found a valve to fit that leak, but some way they found a way to contain it. So they lifted that evacuation order.

And check it out. If you look here, you'll see people digging, digging in the rubble. You'll see some people back there that were taking pictures of where their home once -- homes once stood. And all the way on, miles and miles and miles, I can see from my vantage point a red cross truck just going through and more people here that you probably can't see where you are.

And also, before I get to what I want to show you here about the downtown, in answer to your question, Kyra, you asked me last time, I know I remember reading it. The front of the paper, "The Wichita Eagle," it says "Looters Arrested". But you're not going to believe this. The looters who were arrested, five in uniform, it says, arrested for looting in Greensburg.

Four Fort Riley soldiers and a reserve police officer arrested, this is according to the AP, for looting cigarettes and alcohol from a store in Greensburg. And that is the state (INAUDIBLE) general's office said that. So, according to the newspapers, those looters were found.

Very quickly, though, I want to give you a tour of downtown that I took this morning when people started to come in. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: This is really Main Street. The names of the street are marked on the side here, but this is -- folks here sort of coming in, sort of trying to get back to normal here.

Some of these people are media. Some of them are people who are trying to help out. And others are residents who are going to get their cars marked so they can go into their homes here.

If you look, they are searching here. They've got a dog. They are searching the buildings over here and this way. You see the folks from FEMA and the National Guard and what have you doing interviews with media as well.

And then to the left there you have got the whole media camp where they have it camped out. There's John Roberts there talking to Al Roker from -- from NBC, and a couple of his producers here on the scene. And then down through here if you look this way, this is all just devastation happening here.

Pan down here. This is the name of the street. This is Illinois Street. Main Street here. That's how they see the names of their streets, because all the street signs are gone.

But everywhere you look, if you look all through here, gone. The trees are sheared off. Check that out. Just completely sheared. Buildings here gone, whatever was inside of there.

And then this, where we're doing -- where the media is camped out in front of here, this was a senior center. I had to ask a couple of the residents what happened here.

This was a senior center. That's a funeral home. And this obviously was some sort of lodge. Maybe an Elks Lodge or what have you.

But again, they are searching there. And they've got a dog with them. I would assume it may be a cadaver dog.

So, this is really what's sort of happening now, the signs of life. People getting back to their homes. Can't say getting back to normal, because this isn't normal.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: And that was that senior center we showed you just a short time ago. It doubles as a VFW hall.

This is where they cook. And it's huge. It was a cinderblock area here. This is what we're finding where they cooked -- pickles here, a can of baked beans. A refrigerator here. I see the stove and a bunch of things.

This is what's left of these people's lives here, Kyra.

We're going to continue to update you on this story.

PHILLIPS: And you can see the number of flags, too, even behind you again, Don, showing respect for the flag and hanging it up no matter what. Just one more sign of that resilience that you were talking about.

LEMON: A testament to the spirit here. Everyone we talked to, they are sad, Kyra, but they said, "You know what? We are strong Americans, Midwesterners, and we're going to rebuild."

PHILLIPS: As always.

Don Lemon, thanks.

HOLMES: We turn to Iraq now and target Ramadi. In Iraq's notorious Anbar province, suicide bombers strike twice in 10 minutes, killing at least 13 people at a market and a police checkpoint a mile apart. Attacks there and elsewhere in Iraq today killed 27 Iraqi civilians.

Now, of course many Iraqis understandably tired of their present, not really crazy about their past either. They want to look to the future. And there's some must-see TV.

And you were over there for six weeks. This was one story you did that had everybody talking. Everybody loved this story.

PHILLIPS: Well, I tried to really get into the lives of the Iraqi people. We see so much about the military. We talk so much about the military operations. But I really wanted to concentrate on the Iraqi people and show what it's like for them and their interests, and how they live and how they get by.

And let me tell you, they are some of the most faithful people I ever met. But I've got to tell you, Prophet Mohammed has a little competition here.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: (voice over): In a country where so many people want answers, there is one man who says he has them.

(on camera): Are you psychic?

(voice over): "That is what they call me."

(on camera): Do you consider it a spiritual gift?

(voice over): "Yes, along with my experience, insight and knowledge. I can look at a person and read what's inside of them."

Psychic, astrologer, psychologist, Ali al-Bakri says he's had premonitions since childhood, watching people, recording his thoughts, and seeing them come true. Now he brings his good fortune to the frontlines, offering answers, hope, understanding to Iraq's war zone and its people.

"Your Fortune" hit the airwaves two years ago, becoming the most popular show in Iraq.

"Iraqis have reached a critical stage," Ali tells me. "They need someone who can relieve their stress. People want someone or some leader they can trust. I want them to know life goes on whatever happens." Hadeel al-Bayati takes your calls, while Ali taps into his computer, listens to your question, focuses on your energy, and verifies his vision.

Ahmed (ph) from Basra gives Ali his birth date and time. He wants to know what will happen with his job.

"According to your information," Ali says, "you're either a politician or a high-ranking official." "Yes," Ahmed (ph) says. "According to my calculations," Ali explains, "you will have a promotion in July."

Jobs, sex lives, security, and violence. For one hour, every Saturday on Al-Iraqiya TV, Ali's predictions give Iraqis peace of mind.

"Ali always gives honest answers," Hadeel says. "He's not spontaneous. He relies on his research, astrology, the stars, and because of his correct answers, this show is strong."

(on camera): So, what do you think will happen with regard to the new government?

(voice over): "I think government will witness positive changes, specifically in May."

(on camera): Do any leaders in this country ask you for your advice, ask you for predictions, any members of the new government? Has Nuri al-Maliki called you and said, "Tell me what's going to happen"?

(voice over): "I cannot answer these questions."

(on camera): So, there are some powerful people who have asked you for your advice?

(voice over): "Yes," he says, "it's happened. But understand I care more about helping the Iraqi people, not an official."

But there are no secrets when it comes to the success of "Your Fortune". The show now gets calls from Libya, to Saudi Arabia, and its luck isn't running out any time soon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Now, he's sort of becoming a psychologist as well. He actually meets with people. They're having issues with kids, specifically, affected by the war. One young boy who lost his hearing because of a bomb explosion, the parents wanted to know if he was going to be OK and have a good future, so he met with the family.

It's fascinating. He's taking on this role.

HOLMES: Now, I assume his powers, his visions, aren't limited to just Iraqis. Does it stretch over to Americans as well? Could you not help yourself? Did you have to ask about your fortune. PHILLIPS: OK. I have to fess up...

HOLMES: All right.

PHILLIPS: ... because the crew and I, we though, OK, is this guy really for real? And then as soon as the show was finished, we all went up there.

I'm telling you, he knew that one of my security guards had an issue with his leg. He doesn't limp.

He knew that my producer had an issue with his larynx. And he doesn't speak any differently.

HOLMES: OK.

PHILLIPS: Then he told me I was going to have a rough month in July. I sort of see that coming. But then something is going to happen in October with my job and with my life and something wonderful. So I am sort of focusing on that.

HOLMES: July and October is what we're looking forward to.

PHILLIPS: There we go.

HOLMES: All right.

PHILLIPS: So I need your birth date and your full name, and I'll have yours in less than 24 hours.

HOLMES: I'm nervous about July for you, though.

PHILLIPS: As long as you're here, we'll be just fine.

HOLMES: All right. Thank you, Kyra.

Well, we'll turn back now to the other big story we've been watching today, of course, Greensburg, Kansas, just a town torn apart. The people there trying to figure out what in the world to do next? Do we rebuild? Do we just get out of here?

We're going to talk about that some more ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, looking at the damage as we've been seeing all weekend and today, it's hard to believe that anybody really survived this Greensburg tornado. One reason a lot of people did, they got enough warning. Sirens went off before the storm hit, but not everyone was able to hear them.

Jeff Flock is on the outskirts of town.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are standing out here where this tornado first touched down on Friday. This is the edge of Greensburg, farm country.

In addition to the severe damage downtown, perhaps you can see some of these farmsteads destroyed out there. Several farmsteads destroyed.

To give you a 360 view, perhaps we can spin around and maybe you can see out here across the Kansas plains. Again, this is where the storm first touched down before it got into town about seven miles from here.

Picture this farm family. They did not hear the sirens in town. Again, being so far out of town, they didn't hear those sirens that gave folks in town about a 20 minute warning. So when they say the tornado come, they began to race down into the basement, as you would do.

They got this door closed, but, of course, then the house began to come apart. And perhaps you can see that's when the roof came off.

They raced down here in the basement and begin to try to get in a position in the southwest corner. But because that roof had come off, already debris is raining down on them.

The Unruh (ph) family who lives here got into the southwest corner of the basement, got reasonably safe. But you can see, perhaps, what the debris did down into this basement. It created a difficult situation down here. They were OK, but as perhaps you can see, upstairs their house did not fare as well.

I'm Jeff Flock, CNN, in Greensburg, Kansas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: All right. And we've got some water rescues to tell you about, and also some high-water rescues taking place. Live pictures now from one of our affiliates, KSHB. This is Mosby, Missouri -- or Missouri to the locals there. That's about -- it's just north of Kansas City.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HOLMES: Life lessons on exercise. Retired insurance executive James Hammond (ph) didn't start exercising seriously until he was 86. He's in his 90s now and holds the U.S. record in the 100-meter dash -- for his age group, of course. He says his newfound athletic prowess has added years and joy to his life.

We check in with him in this segment of "Life Lessons".

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is for the 100-meter. This is the 400- meter. I won gold medals in both. Next time I'll win the world record.

I've got to run here. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, another bad habit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The number one thing is staying healthy, because it's hard to be happy if you're not healthy, particularly so when you are older. If you are grumpy and you look for things to complain about, you will not be a happy person.

I'm not happy unless I'm reading something, doing something, writing something. I know that anything that's not used suffers. You have to exercise to keep your joints in good shape. And by the same token, you have to use your mind to keep it active.

I Don't feel (INAUDIBLE). I just -- I think in terms of 10 or 15 years. I'm going to be 100 and what?

I think you have to think healthy to be healthy. Positive, happy thoughts. My goal is to stay well and happy. And that's the principal (ph) thing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you want to do next?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to do that, Tom (ph).

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: so, Susan Lisovicz claims she knows what's in the queen's purse.

HOLMES: You do, Susan? Please. I didn't even notice she carried a purse a lot of times.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, T.J. and Kyra, the queen's royal visit raises the eternal question: What is in Queen Elizabeth's handbag? She's rarely photographed without one. She always carries the handbag, not the clutch or the shoulder bag, because it makes it awkward for receiving flowers and shaking hands, or for all the curtsy and salutations that go on.

According to a 20-year-old reference in "The Guardian," the queen carries a comb, a handkerchief, a small gold compact, a tube of lipstick, and she carries money on Sundays -- "a folded note of unknown denomination which she discreetly places in the collection plate."

And there you have it.

HOLMES: She probably puts the big cash under the hat.

PHILLIPS: That's right. She tucks in the little snacks, the extra money.

LISOVICZ: It certainly would be in my purse.

(LAUGHTER) LISOVICZ: I'll see you guys tomorrow.

PHILLIPS: All right, Susan.

LISOVICZ: And you know, the queen obviously one of the wealthiest people in the world. And people on Wall Street feeling wealthy, too.

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